Five Things, 10 Players To Watch At The Travelers

June 19, 2013

Courant golf writer Tom Yantz has these five story lines and 10 players to keep an eye on this week at the Travelers Championship at the TPC River Highlands:

• 1, Birdie festival or not? The winner will be under par, but how deep in the red? The TPC River Highlands received about 10 inches of rain in the past 10 days. First look would say many birdies will be made with the softer conditions. But the wind and a forecast for sunshine for the tournament could dry out the course and make birdies a little harder to come by.

•2, First-time winners: Marc Leishman was the 16th player who won his first tour event at the Travelers Championship. So Charlie Wi, Brian Davis, Nicolas Colsaerts or someone else can join Leishman, Bubba Watson and Hunter Mahan in posting their first victory at TPC River Highlands.

•5, Trying to follow Phil: Phil Mickelson was the last player to win consecutive tournaments (2001 and '02, when it was called the Canon Greater Hartford Open). Defending champion Marc Leishman looks to duplicate the feat.

Keep An Eye On These Guys

KEEGAN BRADLEY: The man from Vermont said that this tournament was the first he saw as a kid. If he can get that long putter going and roll in some birdie putts, he could be holding the trophy Sunday.

RICKIE FOWLER: Big-time fan favorite, who has big-time game. Was a contender at U.S. Open, where he tied for 15th.

CHARLEY HOFFMAN: Had a two-shot lead with two holes left last year before he drove into the pond on 17 and ended up with a double bogey and then bogeyed 18 to drop into a tie for second. Prime candidate for a great rebound.

MARC LEISHMAN: Can't go against the defending champion, who scorched the course for a 62 in his final round last year.

HUNTER MAHAN: Tied for fourth at the U.S. Open. Always a favorite at the Travelers Championship because he recorded his first tour win here in 2007 and is the tournament's all-time money earner with $2,445,758.

IAN POULTER: Makes his third consecutive tournament appearance. He's a superb putter, especially in the Ryder Cup. When he gets it going on the greens, he's a great, dogged competitor.

JUSTIN ROSE: Of course, he could be tired after all his media responsibilities earlier this week. But he's the U.S. Open champion who has three top-nine finishes in his past six appearances at TPC River Highlands.

WEBB SIMPSON: Tied for 15th at The Players Championship and tied for 32nd at U.S. Open. Ranks 17th in total tour earnings this year. Lost in a playoff in the RBC Heritage. Still looking for first tour victory this season. Game is too good to be shut out.

BUBBA WATSON: Won his first tour title here in 2010 and tied for second last year. Loves TPC River Highlands.

LEE WESTWOOD: The No. 12-ranked player in the world was playing well at the U.S. Open before a great approach shot bounced off the wicker basket atop the 12th flagstick at Merion Golf Club in the second round. This led to his falling to a tie for 15th.